Ladle-truck.



PATENTED JULY 7, 1903.

M. MCDOWBLL.

LADLE TRUCK.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 5. 1902.

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PATENTED JULY '7, 1903.

M. MGDOWELL.

LADLE TRUCK.

APPLIUATION FILED JUNE 5. 1902.

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N0 MODEL.

No. 733,253. x PATENTBD JULY 7, 19703. M. MGDOWELL.

LADLE TRUCK.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 5. 1902. No MODEL. s SHEETS-SHEET a.

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UNiTnn STATES Patented July '7, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

MALCOLM MCDOVELL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

.SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 733,253, dated July'7, 1903.

' Application filed June '5, 1.902. Serial No.. 110,281. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Beit known that l, MALCOLM MCDOWELL, acitizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Chicago,in the county of Cook and Stat-e ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inLadle-Trucks, of which the following is a description.

My invention belongs to that class of devices designed to receive moltenmetal and transfer and deliver the same either for casting into ingotsor billets or to one or more suitable apparatuses for further treatingand reducing the same. Y

The object is to provide simple and effective means for so transferringthe metal and delivering or distributing the'same in measured quantitieswith eXactn ess from the same charge in the ladle.

It also has in mind securing the results above set forth in a rapid andeconomical manner.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction,arrangement, and combination of parts shown and described, and moreparticularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein like referenceiigures indicate like orcorresponding parts, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved device.Fig. 2 is a top plan of the same. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the sameWith the brake-lever broken away to short7 the construction. Fig. 4 is alongitudinal section in line 4 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a transversesection in line 5 5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a detail plan of a simpleweighing mechanism, and Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the same.

In the drawings, 1 1 represent the rails of a track eXtendi ng tosuitable molds, furnaces, or other apparatus. 2 is a truck-bodysupported upon Wheels 3 i3, adapted to run on the rails. The truck-bodyis provided with any preferred form of Weighing mechanism. As shown,bars 4 4 are provided near their ends With knife-edge supports 5 5,permitting a rocking movementin adirection transverse to their length.Said bars are provided near one end With arms 6 6, secured thereto andextended to connect With the rod 7, controlling the operation of thescale-beam S. A platform 9 rests upon knife-edge supports lO, positionedon the bars 4 4. The

draw-hole 13and a plug 14, arranged to control the iiow of metal throughthe same. vAny preferred means may be employed to manipu late the plug14. As shown in the drawings, a lever 15, pivotally supported, as at 16,engages an extension of the plug, as at 17, affording effective means tocontrol the operation of the plug and the discharge of the' metal.

As thus far described, the ladle being charged with a quantity of moltenmetal, the truck is moved along to a point over one of the ingot-molds,furnaces, or other apparatus, and the scales being set to indicate thequantity by Weight of metal desired to discharge the plug 14 is raised,permitting the metal to flow through the hole 13 until the falling ofthe beam S indicates the desired quantity has been discharged. The plugis immediately reset, the truck moved along to the next mold, furnace,or point of discharge, and the operation repeated. It is obvious that bythis means the metal may be distributed with exactuess to furnaces,rotary ballers, or other apparatus, an important point in the casting,mixing, or manipulating of the material. Ingots cast in this manner Willbe of substantially uniform weight and dimensions, rendering them moreeasily handled and transported.

Any preferred means may be employed for controlling the motion of thecar or truck. Thus it may be controlled entirely by hand or it may beprovided with its own motor and suitable means for braking. Electricity,compressed air, or other Well-knownl means may be employed to providesuitable power. As shown, an electric motor supplies the power. Astorage battery (not shown) or its equivalent is provided with acontroller 1S, regulat- ICO ing the current to the motor 19, whichtrans-V mits the power through a sprocket 2O and chain 2l to thesprocket-Wheel 22, secured to the axle 23, Figs. l, 2, and 3. It isdesirable that means be provided to brake the truck and hold it fixedlyin any desired position. For this purpose any preferred means may beemployed. As shown, Fig. 4, the axle 23 is provided with a pulley orfriction-Wheel 24. A band 25 embraces the periphery of the wheel, and alever 26, connected to the band, aii'fords an eective brake mechanismand complete control of the truck. The controller 1S, lever 15, andbrake-lever 26 are arranged near one another, so that a single operatormay control the truck and the discharge of the metal, the truckpreferably being provided with a platform or oor for the operator tostand on While so employed. The scale-beam 8 is also Within easy reach,as shown, for the same purpose.

After thus describing my improvement it is obvious various immaterialmodifications may be made Without departing from the spirit of myinvention. Hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself tothe eX- act form and construction shown.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

l. A device of the kind described, comprising portable Weighingmechanism, in combination With a casting or distributing ladle,supported upon and carried thereby, substantially as described.

2. A device of the kind described, comprising a portable truck providedWith Weighing mechanism, in combination with a casting or distributingladle supported upon and carried by the Weighing mechanism and forming apart thereof, substantially as described.

3. A device of the kind described, comprising a portable truck providedwith Weighing mechanism, in combination with a bottompour casting ordistributing ladle supported upon and carried by the Weighing mechanismand forming a part thereof, and means for controlling the discharge ofthe molten metal from the ladle.

4. A device of the kind described, comprising a portable truck providedwith Weighing mechanism, in combination Witha bottompour casting ordistributing ladle supported upon and carried by the weighing mechanismand forming a part thereof, a vertically-movable plug controlling thedischarge from said ladle, and means for vertically moving said plug.

5. A device of the kind described, comprising a truck provided WithWeighing mechanism, and means for propelling and controlling themovement of said truck, in combination with a casting or distributingladle supported upon the Weighing mechanism and forming a part thereof.

G. A device of the kind described, comprising a truck provided WithWeighing mechanism, and means for propelling and controlling themovement of said truck, in combination ing a truck provided withWeighing mechanism, a motor arranged to propel said truck, a controllergoverning the operation of said motor, and brake mechanism for saidtruck, in combination with a casting or distributing ladle supported onand forming a part of the Weighing mechanism, and meansfor controllingthe discharge from said ladle.

9. A device of the kind described, com prising a truck provided Withweighing mechanism, an electric motor arranged to propel said truck, acontroller governing'the operation of said motor, means for supplying,relectrical energy to the motor, and brake mechanism for the truck, incombination with a casting or distributing ladle supported on andforming a part of the Weighing mechanism, and means for controlling thedischarge from the ladle.

10. A device of the kind described,compris ing a truck provided withWeighing mechanism, a motor arranged to propel said truck, a controllerfor governing the operation of said motor, brake mechanism for saidtruck, a brake-lever for controlling the same and an operators platformon said truck, in combination with a casting or distributing ladlesupported on and forming a part of the weighing mechanism, and means forcontrolling the discharge from the ladle. y

ll. A device of the kind described, comprising a truck provided withWeighing mechanism, a motor arranged to propel said truck, a controllergoverning the operation of said motor, brake mechanism for said truck, abrake-lever controllingthe same, and an opperators platform carried bythe truck, in combination with a casting or distributing ladle supportedon and forming a part of the Weighing. mechanism and a lever controllingthe discharge from the ladle, the scale-beam, brake-lever, controllerand discharge-lever being arranged in convenient proximity with theoperators platform, substantially as described.

MALCOLM MCDOVELL.

Witnesses:

JOHN XV. HILL, CHARLES I. COBB.

IOO

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